Vehicle-periphery viewing apparatus

• US 20060187238A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoneji, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views

Abstract

A vehicle-periphery viewing apparatus comprises an imaging device, an electronic control unit, and a display device. The imaging device captures an image of a surrounding area of the vehicle and comprises a field of view larger in a horizontal direction than in a vertical direction. An electronic control unit comprises: a mask image storage section: and a photomontage section merging a video captured by the imaging device and the mask image read from the mask image storage section, to generate amerged video. The mask image comprises: an upper mask displayed along an upper side of the display screen; and a lower mask displayed along a lower side of the display screen; and an interval between the upper mask and the lower mask in a first direction, becomes narrower toward a center area and wider toward both ends in a second direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle-periphery viewing apparatus comprising:

an imaging device being mounted on a vehicle, the imaging device capturing an image of a surrounding area of the vehicle, the imaging device comprising a field of view larger in a horizontal direction than in a vertical direction;

an electronic control unit comprising;

a mask image storage section where a predetermined mask image is stored; and

a photomontage section merging a video captured by the imaging device and the mask image read from the mask image storage section, to generate a merged video; and

a display device being set in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the display device comprising a display screen for displaying the merged video,

wherein the mask image comprises;

an upper mask displayed along an upper side of the display screen; and

a lower mask displayed along a lower side of the display screen; and

an interval between the upper mask and the lower mask in a first direction, which corresponds to a vertical direction of the display screen, becomes narrower toward a center area and wider toward both ends in a second direction corresponding to a lateral direction of the display screen.

2. The vehicle-periphery viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper mask comprises:

an upper mask region displayed along the upper side of the display screen; and

a center mask region displayed in a center of the display screen,

wherein the interval between the upper side mask region and the lower side mask in the first direction becomes narrower toward the center region and wider toward both ends, and

wherein the upper side mask region and the center mask region are integrally displayed by connecting the center mask region to a center of the upper side mask region.

3. The vehicle-periphery viewing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the electronic control unit further comprises:

a figure image storage section that stores a figure image formed by combination of a vehicle image imitating the shape of an automobile with a visual-range image showing a horizontal visual range of the imaging device with reference to the vehicle image; and

wherein a photomontage section superimposes the figure image read from the figure image storage section on the center mask region of the merged video by merging operation.

4. The vehicle-periphery viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower mask is substantially curved into an circular arc shape such that an interval between the lower side mask and the upper side of the display screen in the first direction becomes narrower toward the center area and wider toward both ends.